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Cooking with a cause

MONROEVILLE- Village resident Jan Weltlin cooks with a cause.
"It all started last winter when I had more time on my hands,' the 58-year-old said.

Norwalk Reflector Staff

Jul 25, 2010

MONROEVILLE— Village resident Jan Weltlin cooks with a cause.

“It all started last winter when I had more time on my hands,” the 58-year-old said.

Weltlin decided to make a pie, sell it at Trinity Lutheran Church and donate the proceeds to the building fund. She’s been doing it ever since. It’s expanded to chicken pot pies now, too.

“It’s nothing to sell four pies in a week,” she said.

She’s driven a school bus for the past 27 years, both for Monroeville Local Schools and now Christie Lane.

“I sell pies at work, too,” she said.

Her job requires her to leave about 5:45 a.m. and pick up students and then return in the afternoon about 2:30 to take the students home.

“I love it,” she said about driving a bus for Christie Lane. “It’s a very enjoyable thing to do.”

When she’s not driving or cooking she likes to garden, quilt, sew and ride bicycles.

Her husband of 10 years, Don, is retired after selling cars for 53 years.

She has four grown children and three grandchildren.

She selected rhubarb pie as the featured recipe because it’s in season.

“And I like rhubarb pie,” she added. “It’s easy.”

She thought for a moment when considering other comfort foods.

“I like M&M’s and a cup of tea, roast beef, mashed potatoes and carrots and spaghetti,” she said.

Weltlin knew exactly what ingredients to have on hand while cooking. “Garlic, onions, butter, eggs and flour.”

She couldn’t recall the worst dish she’s ever made, but did remember a cooking mishap from years ago.

“I had an explosion,” she said. “I was a teenager making cookies and was trying to light the oven with a match down below. It went out but the gas had been on the whole time and when I tried to light it again — well there was no damage but I lost my eyebrows.”

She said the dish she makes the best still is made on occasion. “It’s grilled chicken with noodles — pesto.”

If someone’s coming over at the last minute, she’ll just throw in a frozen pot pie.

Weltlin follows most holiday cooking traditions, but does make lasagna for Christmas.

If you’re a beginner, Weltlin says follow the recipe and read the directions before you get started.